Randon Wilson Speaks at Annual Meeting of National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

09/20/2011

Randon Wilson was recently asked to participate in a Panel Discussion on Cooperatives on September 15, 2011. Mr. Wilson, along with Chuck Conner of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, spoke at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in Salt Lake City, Utah, from September 14 - September 19, 2011. Panel members were asked to answer the question as to whether agricultural cooperatives are of value today. Mr. Conner gave a history of cooperatives in this country and stressed the need for cooperatives as much today as in earlier years. He highlighted some of the major agricultural cooperatives in the country, including Sun-Maid, Sunkist, Welch’s, Ocean Spray, Florida’s Natural, Blue Diamond Almonds, Land O’Lakes, Treetop and others in their role of representing their farmer members in the market. Mr. Wilson spoke on the challenges that are faced by family farms and the importance of cooperatives in helping farmers survive. He was able to highlight many of the cooperatives Jones Waldo has represented, including Amalgamated Sugar, Western Sugar, Michigan Sugar, Louisiana Sugar, United Potatoes, United Cranberries, United Egg Producers and others. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Conner both stressed the importance of having state departments of agriculture promote cooperatives in order to assist the family farms in their states in maintaining an adequate supply of affordable and healthy food for our country.

In addition to the attendance by the 50 State Agricultural Commissioners there were over 100 other officials and sponsor representatives present.